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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Okay, so today's Bookanista post is for one of my favorite reads so far this year. THIS IS W.A.R. by Lisa and Laura Roecker will knock your socks off!

About THIS IS W.A.R.: This is not a story of forgiveness... The mystery of their best friend's murder drives four girls to destroy the Gregory family. Emily Thorne would be proud.Everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club saw Willa Ames-Rowan climb into a boat with James Gregory, the Club’s heir apparent.And everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club watched him return. Alone.They all know he killed her. But none of them will say a word. The Gregory family is very, very good at making problems go away.Enter the W.A.R.—the war to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan. Four girls. Four very different motives for justice and revenge, and only one rule: destroy the Gregory family at any cost.

I really liked this mystery from Lisa & Laura. I've enjoyed their mysteries before, but this one had so many more layers in it that I found intriguing. Maybe because of the multiple narrators? I don't know. But I really enjoyed reading THIS IS W.A.R. and trying to figure out who did what, and when.

The plotting was masterful. Details were revealed right when they needed to be, and not a second sooner. I think my favorite character was Sloan, because she just wanted to do what was best for everyone, but that's hard for her. (No spoilers, but she's a great character -- doesn't fit any of the stereotypes.)

I liked the dynamics of the girls. One of them, Rose, doesn't quite fit in the social hierarchy, but Lisa & Laura made her essential. And that fact that she doesn't belong added one of those layers I was talking about. This little detail gave the book a sense of depth that I really enjoyed.

If you like a good mystery with some (a little, I promise!) YA angst, and fabulous characterization, you'll like THIS IS W.A.R. Be sure to pre-order your copy, because this book doesn't come out until July 2!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Okay, so if there's anything I've learned over the past five years, it's this: The delete key is your friend. There's nothing "darling" about words that don't work, and if you're not sure if they're working or not, chances are, they're not.

My philosophy in this situation? Delete.

When my critique partners start asking me questions about a specific sentence or passage, and I can't answer? Delete.

When my plot is feeling too heavy and convoluted? Delete.

When a chapter needs to be rewritten? Delete it all, and start from blank pages.

I have deleted entire portions of many of my novels in the past. In POSSESSION, I completely wiped out several chapters, creating a Point A and a Point B. I then rewrote a new way to get from A to B.

And you know what? It was better. It worked.

In another of my as-yet-unpublished novels, I deleted about 25,000 (that is not a typo) words--the last 1/3 of the novel. I can hear some of you going, Why? Why would you do that? Didn't you save some of them? What if there was a particularly brilliant sentence?

The truth is, the ending wasn't working, and I couldn't see how it could work with all that black on the page. So I deleted it.

As for combing through the work to find that one awesome piece, I guess I just don't care. I suppose that if I did write one brilliant sentence that might be worth saving, I could write another equally fantastical sentence to take it's place.

In fact, I'm not going for just one sentence. I'm looking to make each word the right one, each sentence more compelling, each scene vital to the overall workings of the book.

And if it's not working... Delete.

So yes, whenever I'm in doubt, I delete. Have you done this? How do you feel about the delete key?

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Okay, so *muppet flailing* (You can imagine that inside your own head however you want.) Today I'm bringing you the FABULOUS Carrie Harris's cover for her new novel SALLY SLICK AND THE STEEL SYNDICATE.

Woo hoo!

This book is coming on December 3, from Evil Hat Productions and you don't want to miss it!!

About SALLY:Every hero has a story. This one starts with a girl and a racing tractor.Sally Slick knows she’s meant to be more than a Midwestern farm girl. What she wants more than anything is to be an inventor when she grows up—and she has the custom-built racing tractor to prove it. But good girls in 1914 don’t go off to the city in search of adventure. Everything changes when Sally’s big brother comes back from Chicago with a robot in hand and mobsters on his heels. With the help of her friend, wannabe hero Jet Black, Sally will risk everything to protect the people she loves.Those bad guys are about to get a giant wrench thrown right into their plans.

And now... The cover!!!

Isn't it shiny and beautiful??! Yes, yes it is. And you can PREORDER IT HERE. Do it. You won't be disappointed.

About BY BLOOD:For 17-year-old Emma Wong, spending a summer in England should be a dream come true. Gorgeous scenery? Check. Lots of hot guys with accents? Yes, please. Throw in an estranged mom, annoying new stepdad, and drooling baby half-brother, and it’s a disaster even her favorite cherry red leather jacket can’t fix. Even worse, there’s (hot) live-in research assistant Josh to contend with. The only thing more embarrassing than drunk-kissing him hours after they meet? Knowing he’ll be witness to her family’s dysfunction all. summer. long.But when Emma meets a mysterious girl who happens to be a Druid, her vacation suddenly promises to be far more intriguing than she anticipated. Powerful rituals, new friends, an intoxicating sense of freedom...and Simon, the sexy foreign stranger she was hoping for. It’s all a perfect distraction from dirty diapers and awkward family dinners.Trouble is, intriguing doesn’t often mean simple. And Emma is about to discover just how not simple her life really is.

I'm reading BY BLOOD right now, and I can tell it's going to be a page-turner. Susanne Winnacker (author of IMPOSTOR -- one of my favorite reads of 2013!) said this about BY BLOOD: “By Blood effortlessly transports you to the cobblestone streets and small pubs of Oxford, and Emma’s sassy voice pulls you right into the story with its hot British boys and touch of magic. A must read!”

So far, I agree with her. So if you haven't put BY BLOOD on your radar, do it today!

Tracy E. Banghart is a cheesy movie–loving, fantasy football–playing (go Ravens!), globe-trotting Army wife who began “practicing” her craft at the age of five, when she wrote her first story. She loves visiting the international friends she met while pursuing her MA in Publishing and spends a portion of every summer at her family’s cabin in Canada, where she finds inspiration and lots of time to relax on the dock. She lives with her husband, son, two lazy dogs and one ornery cat. When not writing or spending time with her family, she is on a mission to bake the perfect cupcake.

Tracy’s next novel, Moon Child, a companion to By Blood, will be available this August!

Tracy is running a giveaway with the Blitz! She's giving away a signed paperback of BY BLOOD and a whole slew of hardcover books (US only), and a signed paperback of BY BLOOD + a $50 Amazon gift card to an international winner! Enter in the Rafflecopter below.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Okay, I am so excited to be bringing you a fabulous cover from one of my Bacon sisters, Stasia Ward Kehoe!

Her second novel, THE SOUND OF LETTING GO, is coming out next winter (February 1, Goodreads says), and it is a must-read! Trust me, I know. I've read it!

About THE SOUND OF LETTING GO:For sixteen years, Daisy has been good. A good daughter, helping out with her autistic younger brother uncomplainingly. A good friend, even when her best friend makes her feel like a third wheel. When her parents announce they’re sending her brother to an institution—without consulting her—Daisy’s furious, and decides the best way to be a good sister is to start being bad. She quits jazz band and orchestra, slacks in school, and falls for bad-boy Dave. But one person won’t let Daisy forget who she used to be: Irish exchange student and brilliant musician Cal. Does she want the bad boy or the prodigy? Should she side with her parents or protect her brother? How do you know when to hold on and when—and how—to let go?

And now for the gorgeous cover!

Stasia is celebrating the release of this cover with a giveaway! You could win a signed hardcover of her first book, AUDITION, or an ARC of THE SOUND OF LETTING GO! Not only that, but me and my Bacon Fabulousities are giving away swag packages! Enter in the Rafflecopter below:

Sometimes I just think a person's brain can get overloaded with All The Things, and it needs a break. If you don't give it one, it'll simply take one on it's own. And since I prefer to decide when I get to check out, I'm going to quit.

I might un-quit tomorrow, but I'm going to enjoy the freedom of quitting today.

There is still the ABANDON scavenger hunt going on! This week only. So be sure to check out today's stops.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Okay, so today is Bookanista Thursday, and selfishly, I'm spotlighting my own book. The outpouring of enthusiasm and support for ABANDON has been mind-blowing for me. I'm hoping it's the ending readers will appreciate -- even if they don't necessarily like it. Ha!

There are a WHOLE SLEW of places the win either ABANDON, or the entire trilogy. They are:

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Okay, first, I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who tweeted, Facebooked, emailed, or came to my launch party. And to everyone who actually bought ABANDON -- or any of my books!

THANK YOU.

I don't know how else to say it.

I was not excited for yesterday. In fact, I've been dreading it for a long time, and not for the reasons you might be thinking. But I'm going to save all that for another day, or maybe not at all. Sometimes truths are too hard, you know?

But thank you. Because of your enthusiasm, I was able to find the joy in publishing and releasing a book yesterday. I want to squish you all into a great big group hug.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Okay, so if you haven't explored the blog in a while -- and who has? -- you should know that there's a ten-day scavenger hunt to celebrate the conclusion of the Possession series. It all kicks off tomorrow (tomorrow!) with the release of ABANDON, and runs until June 14.

Every day, there will be at least 5 blogs hosting Possession series things. Some have an exclusive interview with me. Some have an exclusive guest post. Some have exclusive excerpts from any of the five Possession series novels or short stories.

You don't want to miss any of it. (I am so excited to share this third and final book in the series with you!)

It's a scavenger hunt, so you'll be searching for the City of the Day. You can enter every day once you know the city, or keep track of them all and enter once at the end of the ten days. I'm giving away signed copies of the trilogy, digital downloads of the short stories, and a $50 Amazon gift card. And swag! I can't forget about the swag. There will be a daily prize package of swag too.

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What People Are Saying About POSSESSION

"Possession held me completely captivated from beginning to end. And what an end! I fell in love with the characters and had countless moments of 'Wow.'"--James Dashner, bestselling author of The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials

“Most [readers] will be drawn in by the love triangle, revelations about Vi and her family, and a dark twist ending that maintains the faintest glimmer of hope.” --Publisher's Weekly

"Who Should Read This: Anyone who wants a challenge: This plot is so twisty, I had to read the last chapter twice before I could believe what happened. There's also a very nice balance between badass action and romantic tension for readers who like a good mix of the two." --MTV.com

“Emotion pumps through every scene of this thriller. Given all the urgency and action, the novel’s ending may surprise readers as the heroic adventure turns into a tragic love story.” –School Library Journal

“If George Orwell's novel 1984 were to have a little stepsister, Johnson's POSSESSION would be her.... It would also be perfect for those who relish a hearty romance mixed in with science fiction....As readers follow the relationship triangle, they will gasp with anticipation wondering which boy she will ultimately choose.” --VOYA